Automatic reversing and stopping mechanism.



S. l. FREEOU'F. AUTOMAUC REVEHSING AND-STOPPING MECHANISM.

v APPLICATION FILED APR. 17.4.1917.l 1,977,564..

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mvENvoR wlmgsses ,8. d W/Wewyc Patented'sept. 3,1918.

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8.1. FREEOUF. AUTOMATIC REVERSING AND soPmNG MECHANISM.

ATTORNEY Il llnllll .illu

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

4 SHfIETS-SHEE 2.

APPLICATION FILED APR. Il. l9l7.

WITNESSES v A s.1. FREEouF. AUTOMATIC REVERSING AND STOPPING MECHANSM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19|. l ,2?7, 5 64., Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

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S. 1. FREEOUF.

AuToMAUc-REVERSING AND sToPPiNG MECHANISM.

1,2??1564? APPLICATION mso mm1, 1917. Patentedsept' 3,1918l 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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AUTOMATIC REVERSING AND STOPPING IVIECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

.Application led April 17, 1917. Serial No. 162,629.

To all whom t may concern:

Be itknown that I, STEPHEN J. FREEoUr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dorchester, in the county of Saline andV Y State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Reversing and Stopping Mechanisms, of which the following is a specilication. i

This invention relates to certain improvements in automatic reversing and stopping mechanisms, and has relationv more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with straw spreaders or the like, and it is an objectof the invention to provide a mechanism of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the same may effectively and conveniently be caused to impart movement to a member or a gate in either direction, and wherein said reversal of movement may be automatically attained.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mechanism of this general character wherein a member is caused to travel uninterruptcdly in one direction, together with automatic means for reversing the direction of movement of the member, together with means for rendering automatically the mechanism inoperative when said member has reached the limit of its movement in the second direction.

lith these and other ends in view which will readily appear the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out'in the claims.

In the. accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple andpreferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

' In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, parts having been broken away.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, some parts having been broken away and others shown in section. N

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 4L is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of the speed regulating mechanism.

Figf5 is a diagrammatic View in side eleA vation of the mechanism for changing the direction of feed motion and for interrupting the saine.`

Fig. 6 is a plan view, enlarged, of the spring actuated bell crank controlling the feed motion.

Fig 7 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through a portion of the main shaft.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view taken longitudinally through a portion of the countershaft.

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 10-10 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional detail view taken through a portion of the rear aXle and the hub of one of the ground wheels to show the clutch mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 12-12 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view through one of `the gate carriers, or carriages, taken on the line 13-18 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a sectional detail view taken on the line ll in Fig. 13.

Corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings are denoted by like characters of reference.

The rack or boX of the improved device includes the main sills 15, rear cross bar 16, rear uprights 17, intermediate and front uprights 18 and 19, side boards 20, fron t boards 21 and a cap piece 22 whereby the upper ends of the rearuprights 17 are connected and spaced apart, said cap piece being supported directly above the rear cross-bar 16, said cap and cross bar having their rear faces in substantially the same vertical plane. The rack or box is supported on front and rear axles 23 and 24 having ground Wheels 25 and 26. Mounted on the axle 23 adjacent to one of the hind wheels 25 is a sprocket wheel 27 the hub of which is provided with spring actuated dogs 2S as best seen in Figs. 11 and 12, said dogs engaging aratchet 29 on the hub of the ground wheel 25 so that by rotation of the latter in a forward direction the sprocket wheel 27 will be driven.

Fixed on the rear cross bar 16 are bearings 29" supporting the main shaft 30. Mounted for rotation on the main shaft is a;

sprocket Vwheel 3l which receives motion` from the sprocket wheel 27 by means of a chain 32. Longitudinal movement of the sprocket Wheel 3l in one direction on the shaft 30 is limited by oneof thebear'ings 29 and in the other direction by a collar which is secured on the shaft by a pinVI or' fastening member 34. A clutchimemberlowhich is slidable on the main shaft is provided'with. teeth 36 adapted to engage with similar-teeth 37 `on `the hub of the sprocket wheel 3l ivhichlatter may thus be locked on the shaft for rotation therewith; the clutch member being slidably fitted onthe shaft for rotation therewith as will be readily understood vby reference to Figs. 7 and 8. The

clutch -member 35 is normally held in engagement with the clutch teeth. of Ithe sprocket Wheel 3l by means of a spring 38.

For the purpose of 1actuating. theclutchy member againstthe tension of the'spring 38 a slide 39 is provided having` aforked end engagingian annular groove 40 inthe clutch -nieinber, said slide boing' connectedby alink 41 With one arm of a bell crank` 49. the other arm of which is connected by a' VTrod 48 With a hand lever 44 which is mounted in convenient proximity to the drivers seat 45,

the latter being-secured on-thehforivard4 end of the boXior rack.

A countershaft 46 is supported for rotation 11i-bearings 47V in advance ofthe main shaft 30. A countershaft 46 eaIi-iies'sprocket Wheels 48 fromwhichfcliains 49 aie'tiaiii'ed over sprocket Wheels 50 on al shaft 51 which is mounted foi rotation in bearings 5Qfnear' the front endof the irack.,` -theparts being so arranged that the top leads of thefchains 49 Will pass above andthe bottom -leadsbeloiv the 'door or bottom-member 52 of thebox or rack. Supported on the top face' of said bottom. member are longitudinal trackbars or rails 53 on either of which moves a slider or carriageV 54 having a clamp -55 that engages the head of the rail or track bar and a grcoved.track-engaging Wheel or-roller 56. The tivo` carriages 54 support the gate 57 which extends between the side Walls of the box orrack and which is maintained in anV upright'position byfmeans-of braces 58..` The in which the chains are'operated. y Y

VThe countershaft 46Ucarries a sprocket wheel 59 and a f ratchet Whfeel-60-- The i sprocket `wheel 59 is connected-lby a. chain 61 :with a sprocket Wheel. 62 on the main shaftV from which it.receives-metionawhen said main shaft is being rotated. `The ratchet4 wheel 60 .carries on` the .hubthereof a Erocking'lever @which is connectedgby pitman 64%ivith a crank 65 on'the main shaft 30. The lever 63 also carries paivls or dogs 66 that engage diainetrically opposite sides of the ratchet Wheel60, the arrange nient of said dogs and .of the teeth on the ratchetwvh'eel being such that the ratchet Wheel Will be rotated reversely to the movement'of the sprocket Wheel 59.- The pitinan 64 is `adjustably connected With the crank 65 by a Wrist pin 67 Which is adjustable iii a longitudinalslot` 68-and `the crank 65. r The pitman 64 is' also connectedadjiistably with the leverV 63 `by m'eansof a pin 69 `adjustable in a slot7()` in said' lever,

adjustmentr of said pin69'being' effected' by.

means of a link 7lcoiinecting said pin With one arm of a bell crank 72 the `other arm of which is connectedby afrod 73With acrank 7 4 ona rock shaft 75 ivl`iich is supported in bearings near the forward end of the box or rack and transversely across the same, said rock shaft having a: hand lever 76 whereby it may be rocked to effectadjustinent ofthe iviist pin (S9-radially With i'espectwto the ratchet Wheel 60 forthe purpose of varyw ing the throw ofthe lever and' thereby varyingthe degree of` yrotationcf the ratchet Wheel 60. The parts may be Vretainedv in adjusted position by-means of a stop inemberA 7 7-onthe lever 76 engaging arack segment 78. i

The sprocket Wheel 59 and the ratchet wheel 60y are adapted for engagen'ien't Vwith clutch members 79 and 80 vthat are slidable oni the couiitershaft 46-foi rotation. tiere` with, said clutch membersbeing connected together by a slidey Sl havinglforked ends 82 that engage annular gi-oovesSS inthe respective clutch members, the arrangement being such that by moving the slide 8l either the sprocket Wheel 59 or the ratchet'ivheel 60 may be locked on the shaft for rotation thereivitln or the clutchmembers 79 and 80 may be placed in a neutral position. For

the purpose of actuating the slide 81 a bell iviththesprocket Wheel o9 oi the ratchet wheel 60, as the case may be." VVhenthei clutch membersA are inx neutralrpoeitioin,` the spring 96ml] bepractically on andead.cenw

ter, although i-t` may; as shown inf lig'.:` 6.,

be arranged slightly to one side of adead center so that Whemtheaparts.arexot-herwise released, it will exert a tendency to tilt the bell crank in a direction to place the clutch member 80 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 60 which imparts movement in a rearward direction which is regarded as feed movement to the gate 57.

The lever 89 with which the forward end of the connecting rod 88 is connected has a stop member 91 that engages a single beveled notch 92 in a segment 93. Supported near the rearward and forward ends of the box or rack and extending upwardly through the slots in the bottom of said rack so as to lie in the path of the gate 57 are vertical levers 94 and95, the former being connected with the connecting rod 88 by a link 96 and the latter being likewise connected with said connecting rod by a link 97.

Assuming now that the -gate 57 is positioned near the forward end of the rack, as seen .in Fig. 5, in engagement with the projecting upper end of the lever 95, the stop member 91 of the lever 89 should then be in engagement with the notch 92 ofthe segment 98 and the clutch members 79 and 80 should be in neutral position. Let it further be assumed that, the vehicle being in motion, the stop member 91 is released from the notch 92 and the upper end of the lever is moved in a rearward direction to pull upon the arm 85 of the bell crank C, the slide 81 will then be moved in the proper direction to cause the clutch member 80 to be placed in engagement with the ratchet wheel 60. The latter, being now locked on the countershaft 4:6, will cause the latter to be rotated in a proper direction to cause the gate 57 to travel in a rearward direction, the speed being capable of being regulated `by means of the lever 7 6 and the mechanism hereinbefore described. When the gate reaches the rearward limit of its movement it encounters the upper end of the lever 94 which is thereby tilted, ,pulling on the connecting rod 84 and reversing the position of the bell crank C, the movement of the latter being completed by the action of the spring 90 as soon as the latter passes beyond a dead center. The clutch member 80 will thus be disengaged from the ratchet wheel 60 and the clutch member 79 will be placed in engagement with the sprocket wheel 59,

locking the latter on the countershaft L16- and causing the latter to be rotated in a rcverse direction. By the same pulling action ou the connecting rod 88, the upper end of the lever 89 will be thrown in a forward direction, the stop member 91 jumping across the beveled notch 92 so as to engage the segment 93 in advance of said notch but without locking engagement with the segment. As the gate travels in a rearward direction it will presently encounter the upper end of the lever 95 whereby the connecting rod 88 will be actuated in an opposite direction to its actuation by the lever 94, thereby pulling on the arm 85 of the bell crank C in a direction to move the clutch 79 out of engagement with the sprocket wheel 59 and the clutch 80 in the direction of the ratchet wheel 60. The movement, however, will be interrupted by the movement of the stop member 91 with the notch 92 which occurs at the proper moment to arrest the movement of the slide 81 controlling the clutch members when the latter are in neutral position, thus interrupting further movement of the gate, the latter being at the forward limit of its movement until it shall again be set in motion by a proper manipulation of the lever 89 on the part of the operator.

Supported in bearings on the rear cross bar 16 and on the top bar 22 are vertical shafts 98 said shafts being provided at their lower ends with bevel gears 99 meshing with bevel gears 100 on the main shaft The shafts 98 are provided at intervals with arms 101 carrying forks 102, said fork arms constituting spreaders or scatterers which, when the shafts 98 are in motion, will be rotated in various horizontal planes, engaging the rearward portion of the load which is being moved rearward by the action of the gate as previously described, the load being thereby scattered evenly over a large area, the quantity of material that is being scattered being capable of being very exactly regulated by the speed regulating means hereinbefore described.

From'the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood. It will be seen that I have produced a straw spreading machine capable of handling large quantities of straw mechanically and in a time and labor saving manner. It will furthermore be particularly noticed that when the machine is loaded and driven to the field, nothing remains to be donc by the operator except to manipulate the lever 14 for the purpose of actuating the clutch whereby the main shaft is thrown in operation, and then to actuate the lever 89 whereby the feed mechanism is started in motion. The speed regulating means, having been once properly adjusted, usually requires little more attention, although it is within the power of the operator to vary the speed of the feed movement at any time while the machine is in operation by means of the lever 76. The gate' will continue its travel in a rearward directionV until it reaches the rearward limit of its movement, when, by the trip mechanism herein described, the direction of movement will be reversed and the gate will travel forwardly until the forward movement of its limit is reached when, by reasen ofthe automatic trip nflecl'ianisrmits movement will be interrupted,'thus enabling the vehicle to be driven to the :loading place and reloaded without further attention to the mechanism.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1.111 combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, `two members loosely mounted on the. drivenshaft, a clutch device slidable enthe driven shaft and positioned between the two members loosely mounted on said driven shaft, means for actuating the clutch device to` place said device in a neutral `position or to engage the same with either of the members loosely mounted on the driven shaft, means for I -transmitting motion i from the driving shaft to the driven shaft `for rotating said ldriven shaft in one direction, means Ifor `transmitting vmotion yfrom the driving shaft to Athe second member for rotating the driven shaft in the opposite direction, aamember mounted for mov-.ement in opposite directions and operatively connected with the -driven shaft, a bell crank, a hand leve-r, 1a `rod,connecting the hand lever andthe bell crank, trip members intersecting the path of travel of the member operatively engaged with the members looselymounted `on the driven shaft, conneetions betaveensaid rod and the trip members, and a linkconnection `between the :bell crank and the clutch device.

Q. In .combinatioin a driving shaft, a driven shaft, two members lloosely mounted on the driven shaft, a clutch device slidable on the driven shaft and positionedbetween the two members loosely mountedon said driven `shaft, means for actuating` the clutch device to `place said device in a neutral position or to engage fthe same -with either of the members loosely mounted on the driven shaft, means for :transmitting motion from the driving shaft to the driven shaft for rotating said driven shaft in one direction, means for transmitting motion from the driving shaft to the second member for rotating the .driven :shaft lin the opposite direction, ra member mounted for move- :ment in opposite directions and operatively connected `with [the driven shaft, a bell crank, a hand lever, a rod connecting-the hand lever and. the bell crank, trip members intersectin-gathe path of travel of the member operatively engaged with the members loosely mounted on the driven shaft, connections between said red andthe trip members, a link connection between the bell crank and the clutch device, and an actuating spring engaged with said bell crank and operating, when the bell crank has passed a dead center, to tilt said bell crank in the direction of the limit of its movement.

In combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, :two members loosely mounted on the driven shaft, a clutch device slidable on the driven shaft and positioned between the two members loosely mounted on said driven shaft, meansfor actuating the clutch device Ito place said device in a neutral position or to enga-ge thesame with either of the members loosely mounted on the driven shaft, means for transmitting motion from the .driving shaft to the driven shaft for rotating said driven shaft in one direction, means for transmitting niotion from Athe driving shaft to the second member for rotating the -driven shaft in the opposite direction, a member -mounted for movement in opposite directions and operatively con nected with fthe driven shaft, a bell crank, a hand lever, a rod connecting the hand lever and the bell crank, trip members intersecting the path of travel of the member operatively engaged with lthe members loosely mounted on the driven shaft, connections between said Vrod and the trip members, a link connection between the bell c 'ank and the clutchdevice, an actuating spring engaged with said bell crank and operating, when the 1-bell crank has passed a dead center, to tilt said bell crank in the direction of the limit of its movement, and means for locking-thehand lever against movement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

STEPHEN J. FREEOUF.

Gqpiesmfthis,-patent-maybe-obtained for .ve `cents each, by addressing the Commissioner :ir-Patents Washington; 11.10. 

